Angelina Jolie in Chad

During a visit to the Oure-Cassoni camp in eastern Chad, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie listens to refugee women from the Darfur region in Sudan. CLICK HERE to find out why Angelina Jolie is visiting this camp!

UPDATE :: Read Angelina Jolie‘s article about “Justice for Darfur.” The first line reads, “Here, at this refugee camp on the border of Sudan, nothing separates us from Darfur but a small stretch of desert and a line on a map.”

BAHAI, Chad, February 27 (UNHCR) – UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie on Tuesday completed a two-day mission to a refugee camp in eastern Chad which enabled her to assess how the security situation has deteriorated for Sudanese refugees since her last visit to Chad three years ago.

Jolie, who visited both Chad and neighbouring Sudan’s Darfur region with UNHCR in 2004, said she was struck by the sense of hope she encountered at the Oure-Cassoni camp near this town and by the widespread desire for peace-keepers to be deployed in Chad.

She also reflected on the hardship and suffering she had seen at the camp, which is located less than five kilometres from the border with Sudan. “It’s always hard to see decent people, families, living in such difficult conditions,” she said. “What is most upsetting is how long it is taking the international community to answer this crisis,” Jolie added.

The award-winning actress had to travel through a sandstorm on Monday to reach the Oure-Cassoni camp, which with a refugee population of more than 26,000 is the northernmost of 12 UNHCR-run camps in eastern Chad housing more than 230,000 refugees from Sudan’s troubled Darfur region.

She was greeted at one of the camp’s many primary schools by singing children as the desert wind whipped against the plastic sheeting serving as the structure’s roof and walls. The encroaching sands and storms make their hard life even tougher, with many of the tents and mud-brick houses partially or completely buried. Wood for cooking and heat is scarce in the region, and competition for the resource causes friction between the refugee and local populations.

Refugee women are sometimes sexually and physically abused while out collecting the precious scraps of firewood beyond the protection of police provided by the Chadian government to help ensure refugee security.

At the school, Jolie listened to children’s tales of daily life, their concerns and their hopes of one day returning to their homes in Darfur. The room was filled with laughter as she and the children took turns drawing for each other. She later visited mentally ill refugees.

On Tuesday, Jolie visited a man-made reservoir that feeds the camp with water, but which is now almost empty following disappointing rains last year. Its shrinking reserves are a matter of concern for the refugees and UNHCR.

She then sat down with a group of women and discussed their desire for access to income-generating activities as well as their longing to return home. But the women, who were preparing celebrations for International Women’s Day on March 8, said it was still not safe enough across the border and many of the refugees she spoke to supported calls for a peace-keeping force in Chad.

In a report last week to the United Nations Security Council, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon proposed sending a multi-dimensional peace-keeping mission to Chad to protect civilians and deter cross-border attacks.

The refugees Jolie talked to also drew comfort from recent radio reports saying that the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) had told the Security Council it had credible evidence of grave crimes against humanity committed in Darfur.

“Today, many refugees seemed to have a new sense of hope, and they want to see those guilty brought to trial . . . In order to feel safe enough to return home, these people said they would need to know that the men who attacked them had been stripped of their weapons,” Jolie said. “This is a very important day for international justice. The decisions of the ICC could make a big difference in the lives of these women and their children.”

Jolie had high praise for the UNHCR staff and NGO workers that she met in the camp. “Years into this situation, now finding themselves coming under attack, humanitarian workers’ spirits are unbroken,” she said.

There are more than 230,000 refugees from Sudan in eastern Chad, while some 46,000 refugees from the Central African Republic have found shelter in southern Chad. In addition to these refugees, close to 120,000 Chadians are displaced in the eastern region of their own country.

God bless her soul!! very inspiring wowan.. walks the walk!!! very genuine.. God Bless her and her family!

just me

me first? yay!

just me

oops!! someone’s fingers were faster than mine :)

checkers

you’re funny: just me says: I thought the same thing!

Shut-Up

WOW, She’s just AMAZING! I hope she has a safe trip returning to her family.

BCBG

Oh, I pray that you will be safe, Angie.

JSmith

Dear dear Angie, you are such a beautiful person. Just please keep safe!!! Go Angie G!!

once in a while

What a great inspiration. You go Girl!!! You deserve RESPECT from the media

I am so proud to be BA fan.

bdj

Wow!! Just Jared you are great. If I had a dollar, I would give it to you. Many cyber thanks. AJ is an inspiration and I wish her and BP a long and happy life with their family. Safe travels AJ and best wishes to BAMZS.

Mercy

I am so proud of Angie. Happy for her, Brad and the kids, too. Have a safe trip, Angie!

creativegirl

I hope she is safe too. I think she will raise a ton of awareness for this horrible situation upon her return.

On a lighter note, PH had the cutest pics of Shi and Z today on his site. I also think its ADORABLE that Brad’s mom came to help out while mom was away.

Too cute!

asaragena

A beautiful woman and a beautiful soul. Please be safe Angie and you rock!

This is great j@red! Like I’ve said innumerable times, more power to this woman and her fam!
Oh yea thanks j@red for this thread and the news…….so beautiful

GIVC

She is an inspiration to all! I’m sure this type of work helps her deal with her own grief. Truly an amazing woman!

Tabitha

Angelina is a really wonderful person. I hope she makes it home safely.

Maria

This woman is just so amazing. I truly love everything she does. I’m happy we have her around.

OK, now I’m leaving. Good Night Real Deals!!

Maria

Oh! forgot!! Thanks Jared!!

http://none linda

Thanks JJ for the new thread specially this kind. Angelina is really a wonderful person. I’m proud to be her fan.

Artemis

Angelina has a truly enlightened & compassionate soul. She has my deepest admiration.

Estelle

Good night Maria. it’s a good day.

Tijen

Thanks Jared.
Goodnight everyone.

krystal..Aka Preggy

Omg she never ever stops surprising me..she is so wonderful..

Karma really is real!

She has done so good for so long damn it she deserves the beutiful life she has now!

gigi

You can’t bring a good woman down! She is a strong voice for this cause.

Sheri

Fearless, when it comes to helping others! She deserves every ounce of respect and more that comes her way!

Jared thanks, your the bomb!!

jjoy

1
checkers SAYS:

February 27th, 2007 at 7:19 pm – flag comment

ITA….take care Angie, GOD BLESS YOU always and have a safe trip :)

thanks jj and audrey…..

susie

thanks JJ for the inspirational thread.

Guli- I will celebrate with my water!

kk1

Angelina never fails to amaze me. She is truly a caring and compassionate person who all of us would do well to emulate by finding a way in our lives to reach out and help someone who needs some assistance. We all share this planet and when some suffer we all suffer in the long run. Angelina understands this.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith

Thanks Jared for this. As I said before she really is an inspiration to me with all that she does and I just love her fearlessness in going to these places and bringing awareness. May God bless you Angie and don’t ever let anyone bring you down. Have a safe trip back home.

alicet

Angie is truly amazing. I hope she is able to bring much needed attention to the plight of the refugees at Darfur. I believe that her trip was set to coincide with the ongoing trials at the Internation Criminal Court against the principal perpetrators of the genocide in Darfur that is being reported now.

brit brit

anjelina jolie is so fake and steals husbands. Ya she does good but she’s also evil!

kmillz

nice!

http://www.justjared.com cutie

ok…who hates angelina jolie ????? I LOVE YOU ANGELINA YOUR THE BEST :)

hmmm

32
brit brit SAYS:

um lmao Was Kevin not with his pregnant girlfriend when”brit brit stole him”

think positive!

Thank you Jared for this wonderful new thread and the article with the details of what she did there.

This woman is so devoted and dedicated to her mission. Nothing will stop her. I hope that she will always be strong and healthy to carry on and all these people who suffer every day to benefit from her great efforts. Way to go Angelina Jolie!

And now that her mission is over I wish her a safe return back to her family in NOLA!!

Someone I know must have missed her a bit.. ;)

old lady

WOW! What a brave woman. I pray that God will keep her safe and bring her home to her family in good health. Thanks JJ. Your site is inspiring. BTW Creative who is PH who has pictures os Z and Shi? JJ can you post the picutre of brad going for a walk with Shi in his arms? I would love to see it. Anybody, please? Thanks.

Ameena

Wow, I just opened up the old thread now there is a new one, I will just skip the old one. Thanks JJ, you’ve been working hard today.

Angie, we are praying for your safe return home.

Juno

Angelina follows the beat of a different drummer. A better drummer to be sure. While all other stars and mini stars wanted to be a part of the Oscars, she was traveling in behalf of the UN to follow a cause for humanity. She obviously takes this job very seriously and fearlessly. You cannot help but admire her strength and deep belief to help the less fortunate.
And no I didn’t watch the Oscars. Our Lightning hockey team was playing and that always takes precedence over anything and yay we won!! :D

faithinher

Thank you so much Jared!!!! I was wondering how Angie was in Africa. Thanks for keeping us informed. I too wish her a very safe journey home.

Alexanderina

Thanks Jared for the new thread. Angie is truly amazing and inspiring. I am so proud of you Angie

Izzie

As usual, Angelina never ceases to disappoint us. I am very proud to be a fan, and will toast to her!

It is no surprise as Hollywood celebrates itself with the overflow of materialism, Angelina is in Chad.

She is amazing.

I hope she comes back with an orphan from Chad. That child would be so lucky. Angelina you are my inspiration. What an incredible woman. Be safe! I hope all of us can learn a bit from your generosity of spirit – especially the rich and famous.

kearnie

Dear Jared,

Thank you for posting this thread on non-celebrity matter.

And you keep on movin’ Angelina.

Andrómeda

JJ thank you for this….
I love and admire Angie more and more.

Aiko

Amazing woman. more power to you…and please be safe.

anustin

im really happy for her.

susie

Angelina is so admirable and inspirational and devoted to helping the displaced people of the world!! That is why the haters come to JJ, they love and admire her so much that they cannot keep away from here!

Andromeda- how are you doing?

guli

Jared, many many thanks and you know you are the best!

Susie water or sprite is fine :lol: Hey I was asking Medi do you remember how your kids were at 9 months. It’s been so long for me I forget :-( I know they are teething and love trying solid foods and are crawling or walking and exploring all the time. :lol:

BTW- E! has an Angie bio (old one)

I just love our Angie what a courageous, giving kind hearted woman. She really is an inspiration as her Bradle says.